7 replies to this topic

[Slot Car Rod]

Victor sent me more MESAC parts to build another MESAC TransAm car.  The parts came out of MESAC member Chuck Hooton's box.  

I compared the wheelbases of about five pony car models, and the second generation Firebird fit just right.  The wheelbase measures about 4 1/8".

The chassis is one of the most complex slot car chassis we have ever seen.  It even has a Watts linkage!

 

The chassis as found was tarnished and almost black in color.  I cleaned up the chassis and added the missing body mounting provisions.  All of the running gear was retained.  The tires on the Russkit wheels were replaced.  Gears are the original Welduns.  Axles are aluminum.

 

Time for a track test.  Thanks, Victor.

 

 

The original issue body has TransAm fender vents and a Formula hood.

 

 

 

Shown with body post nuts trial fitted.

 

 

 

Watts-style linkage.

 

Body posts.

 

[Pablo]

To say a lot of thought and engineering went into that would be the understatement of the century     

[Slot Car Rod]

The Firebird is fun to drive and handles great.  It oversteers slightly when pushed.  There is lots of body lean in corners.  The motor is crazy fast with good brakes.  This is amazing since there are light tension motor springs with no heat sink posts.

 

 

 

[Mark Onofri]

Some people have all the fun. I've said it before, I thought (in 1975) that all slot cars were like this and, they are still my favorite. If you've ever tried to build one of these, you'll realize the enormous amount of work that goes into them.
Rodney, Victor, can't thank you enough for preserving and sharing these with us.

[Mark Onofri]

Here's as far as I've managed to get. I'm going for #4 as soon as I get a new jig.
Ps: I stuck a Mura G20 arm in this and it is louder than a dentists drill

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[Bill from NH]

Mark, try one of the ceramic honeycomb jigs that the 1/32 guys build on. They're also big enough for 1/24 use & about $20. I got mine from Florida on eBay, but Slot Car Corner also sells them. They are located in CT & NH & do have a website. They're like jeweler's soldering plates.

[Jaeger Team]

Mark, could you post a closer pic of that endbell? and what about magnets?
I love 13UO a lot!

[Mark Onofri]

It's got stock magnets and endbell. I just hog'd it out to fit the G20 com. I've been thinking about putting in a set of physics defying magnets from a 103. Maybe tonight. I also thought about C12 hardware. Someone told me that with stock magnets it'd run hot 🤔IDK.
Hope I didn't hijack your thread Ron